Protect the Johnson Amendment

By Rev. Scott Moore, Guest columnist

Published
9:41 pm CDT, Thursday, August 24, 2017

The centerpiece of any house of worship is the Sanctuary. These are places set apart meant to be sacred spaces; spaces safe from outside influence. The term has been co-opted into general use outside houses of worship to mean any place of refuge, respite, and safety. In these hotly contested times, that also means safe space from political races that are splitting so many communities.

Yet, President Trump and members of Congress have stated that they want to repeal the Johnson Amendment, the law that prohibits tax-exempt churches from endorsing political candidates. I stand strongly in opposition to repealing this law. And I'm not alone. I have added my signature to a letter of over 4,000 faith leaders from around the country urging Congressional leaders, including Texas Senators Cornyn and Cruz and Representative Brady, to protect the Johnson Amendment.

Our politics and elections are extremely divisive. A quick glance through any local news outlet will highlight this. Lawsuits and criminal charges against elected officials seem to be weekly headlines. Politicians, once allies, turn against each other over the slightest issue. And, the fighting is no longer relegated to just Republican vs. Democrat or Liberal vs. Conservative. In Montgomery County, Texas, the traditional two-party political system has eroded into at least three identified "Tea" Parties (all with their own agenda and candidates, frequently differing from those of the established Republican Party) and several "progressive" groups operating outside the bounds of the Democratic establishment. There are so many players in the political game today it's hard to keep track of all of them.

That's why it's even more crucial that we keep the Johnson Amendment in place. It's important that our houses of worship remain spaces where our members can talk to each other openly about issues. As people of faith, we need to be able to connect with one another about the moral and social issues of our times. But there's a difference between discussing issues and getting into the business of picking candidates. Our sacred places of worship must be protected from pressure to endorse and oppose candidates.

It's important to understand that people of faith do not always agree and do not always have to agree on issues. But we do need to have safe spaces where issues can be discussed openly, collegially, and with respect and dignity – and without the interference of candidate endorsement. Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other holy places are the perfect place for voter registration drives and candidate forums where office-seekers from all political persuasions can come and share their ideas with their constituent communities. Houses of worship have standing and identity in their communities and are the perfect vehicle for community engagement. They are not the perfect places for partisan political rallies.

As our leaders in Congress continue doing the hard work of leading during these turbulent times, I hope that they will not weaken or repeal the Johnson Amendment. This law is good for both congregations and communities, and it especially protects us, as people of faith, from having politicians pressuring our houses of worship for endorsements.

I am a faith leader, and I am an elected official. I can speak to this issue from both sides. And, it is my firm belief that partisan politics do not belong in our houses of worship. Let's protect our communities, our sacred places, and our political process by protecting the Johnson Amendment.

Rev. Scott Moore is the director of the Center for Missional Excellence, Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, in Houston and a Conroe ISD board trustee.